Chapter Ten
"Hit List" Part 2
"No, no, no, no, no, NO!"
Rehearsals were beyond scary today. So much for staying over and learning lines.
"Have you even looked at your script since last night!?" Derek roared. "I had it down pat earlier." Danica replied. I sighed. "She's an actress for crying out loud, she should know how to memorize lines." Bobby said, underneath his breath. I looked at the clock, which read 5:53. I sighed, if I was going, I needed to go before they think I was standing them up.
"Hot date, Iowa?" Bobby joked.
"Ah, kinda, I have to leave at six." I said.
"Why?" Jessica asked.
"I have somewhere I need to be." I said.
"Where?" Bobby asked.
"You both are rally nosey aren't you?" I asked.
Just then, Derek screamed for Danica to listen. "I am listening to you, Derek." She said. "No, you're not!" Derek shouted. "Why don't you go outside and learn your lines, while I work with the chorus?"
Danica gulped, and looked over at me. "Alright," She said, almost empty, as she headed out. "Derek," Eileen growled, beckoning him to come towards her. I sighed. "I gotta go, or I'm going to be late." I said, rising to my feet.
Bypassing Eileen and Derek, I went straight for Juila. "Hey, Karen." She said, with a smile. "Hey, I have to go somewhere, and I'm not going to make this a habit." I said. "Oh, go right ahead…I'm pretty sure, this is going to be it, someone can take your place." She said. I smiled. "Thank you." I said, giving her a hug. I headed out, Danica was on the floor, reading her script. I put my headphones on, pretending to listen to music.
I quickly hailed a cab, and by the time I got there it was 6:05. I ran towards them. "Sorry, I'm late..it was harder to get out than I expected." I said. "It's alright." Kyle said, with a smile.
"No, it's not Kyle." He spat.
"Jimmy," Kyle replied.
"She came here five minutes late!" Jimmy argued.
"Five minutes!" Kyle fought. "Jimmy, she told us yesterday that she had rehearsal!"
"Look, I'm here, are we going to work or not?" I asked.
Jimmy sighed, as he headed north. "Follow us," Kyle said, with a smile. I smiled, as he guided me to where we were going to rehearse.
###
"Where's Karen Cartwright!?" Derek cried.
It was only six forty five.
"She said she had to go some place." Julia replied.
"Go some place?" Derek asked. "Where?!"
"Don't know." Julia said. Derek sighed. "Get Danica back in here!" He cried. Danica came into the rehearsal room, she came towards me. "You wanted me?" Danica asked.
"Yes, I want to run Don't Forget Me, " He said, pointing to the floor. She smiled, as she skipped to the floor. She sang the song. Horribly. Derek wanted to pull his ears out. "Oh my God!" He shouted.
"What?" Danica asked, stopping. "You're out of tune." He said. "He's right, Danica." Tom said.
Derek sighed. "You know what?" Derek asked. "Everyone go home, relax, and come tomorrow at six thirty ready to work." He directed the last statement to Danica. He was utterly done with her. He didn't know what else to do with her, except fire her and hire Karen back.
###
"You're changing the whole story!" Jimmy shouted, angrily, knocking a bunch of cups off the table. "I'm not changing anything, I'm just making suggestions." I said.
He shook his head, smiling. "Yes, you are." He said. "Kyle, do you think I'm changing your story?" I asked.
He started, but I raised my hand to stop him. "It's okay, I'll still be here, if you think so." I assured.
"I don't think you're changing it…you're just giving us some advice." Kyle replied.
###
Derek angrily stalked out of the rehearsal room. "Hey!" a voice called from behind him. He turned to find Danica racing to get him. "Let me tell you this, Miss. Phillips, I am in a relationship, and you're acting very inappropriate." He said.
"With who?" Danica asked, still following him.
"Danica," Derek sighed.
"Derek," She replied. She was too close. He could literally smell her perfume off her skin. "No." He said, as he went straight for the elevator.
###
I sang the Diva's song.
Jimmy shook his head. "What did I do wrong now?" I asked.
"Everything!" He cried. "Jimmy," Kyle replied.
"No, no…she's all over the place..it's horrible, and she calls herself a Broadway actress!?" He exploded. His behavior reminded me of Derek, only Derek wasn't this bad. "Jimmy, what do you want me to do?" I asked, standing, and placing a hand on his forearm.
But, he wasn't prepared for me, and slapped me. I fell backwards, and thanks to Kyle caught me. "Karen!" He cried. "Are you alright?"
"I will be," I said, getting up. "Thanks, I'm going." I leaned over for my purse.
"Jimmy!" Kyle replied. "I'll be back tomorrow, after rehearsal, I'm going to let him calm down." I said, leaving the apartment.
###
I got home to the smell of Chinese. I went into the kitchen to find Derek sitting on a bar stool. "So you left rehearsal early today?" He asked.
"You noticed?"I asked.
He smiled. "How could anyone not notice the love of his life leave?" He asked, kissing me. He then paused, a hand went to the side of my face. "Karen, what happened to your face?" Derek asked.
"Nothing," I said, heading towards the freezer.
"Nothing?" Derek asked. "Karen Cartwright, something happened, and you're going to tell me what."
I sighed. "I found a duo, who had this amazing story, and I'm helping them." I explained. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"They have this musical, and I was going to help him…after Bombshell hours," I assured. "One of the partners have major anger issues." I replied.
Derek frowned. "Anger issues?" He asked.
"Yeah." I said. "Karen, if he slapped you, I don't want you to be working for him anymore." He said.
"Derek, I'm alright," I whispered. "I'm new, he just has to get used to me."
"I don't know," He replied. "After what Dev did…I don't agree."
I sighed, as I put some ice on the side of my head, which still stung. "Karen, I love you, I just don't want you to be hurt." Derek said. "I love you, too." I said, kissing him on the cheek. "I'm not hungry," I said, placing the ice pack on the counter. "I'm going to bed." I walked towards the stairs, and I looked back to see Derek following.
I held back a smile.